Results 15,901-15,920 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together. In my response to previous questions from the Deputy in these matters in October last, I explained that there is currently no underlying data available to my Department or to the Revenue Commissioners on which to base reliable estimates of the savings across the various scenarios outlined by the Deputy. Information on the numbers and...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position is that payments from the Department of Social Protection such as the contributory and non-contributory State pension will be exempted from the Universal Social Charge and are not included in an individual's overall income for the purpose of the Universal Social Charge (USC). The legislation also provides that where an individual's total annual income which is chargeable to...

Written Answers — Public Service Agreement: Public Service Agreement (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In 2008 the OECD Review of the Irish Public Service identified the need to move towards a more integrated Public Service. This would involve networked approaches to working with increased flexibility for workers. The report of the Task Force on the Public Service, Transforming Public Services , endorsed the need for a more integrated Public Service and a move to a unified labour market as a...

Written Answers — Public Service Agreement: Public Service Agreement (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Performance Management System in operation in my Department is the Performance Management Development System (PMDS) introduced throughout the Civil Service on foot of General Council Report 1452. The Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 contains a commitment 'to introduce significantly improved performance management across all Public Service areas, and following the current review, the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: During 2009, 2 people were employed on a short-term, temporary or consultancy basis by my Department. The annualised salary costs for 2009 was €290,203. During 2010, 7 people (including those employed in 2009) were employed on a short-term, temporary or consultancy basis by my Department. The annualised salary costs for 2010 was €739,474. The numbers above do not include staff on...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The EU Commission's Autumn Forecasts project real GDP growth of 0.9% for 2011 and 1.9% for 2012 after an anticipated marginal decline of 0.2% for 2010. My Department's forecasts are 1.7% for 2011 and 3.2% for 2012 after a marginal increase of 0.3% for 2010. Reuters also publish a monthly survey of private sector economic forecasts (typically 10 economists surveyed). The results are known as...

Written Answers — Banks Recapitalisation: Banks Recapitalisation (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that I have already stated that I do not agree with the comments made by the Chairman of Anglo. The Central Bank set out its estimates of the banks' capital requirements following the results of the PCAR exercise on 30 September. The PCAR takes account of all elements of the banks' loan books, including the mortgage loan books. It has taken a realistic view of the...

Written Answers — Bank Guarantee Scheme: Bank Guarantee Scheme (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that income tax is chargeable on employee bonuses in respect of the year in which those bonuses were earned, although PAYE tax is deducted in the year in which they are actually paid. Where the marginal income tax rate is the same for the year of payment and for the year the bonus was earned – for example, the rate has remained at 41% since 2007...

Written Answers — Bank Guarantee Scheme: Bank Guarantee Scheme (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In July 2009, Allied Irish Banks (AIB) brought to the attention of my Department that certain legacy issues had arisen regarding pre-existing contractual payments arising from their 2008 Capital Markets bonus scheme. The 2009 Scheme was withdrawn. These issues related to overseas locations where legal action had been threatened or initiated by some AIB employees. AIB advised that awards due...

Written Answers — Bank Guarantee Scheme: Bank Guarantee Scheme (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position regarding the payment of bonuses to senior management and staff in the covered institutions since the publication of the CIROC Report in March 2009 is that the legal advice at the time was that pre-existing contracts had to be honoured and bonuses relating to such contracts should be paid. For details of the bonuses paid out by the covered institutions since September 2008 the...

Written Answers — Bank Guarantee Scheme: Bank Guarantee Scheme (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that since the introduction of the Government Guarantee Scheme in September 2008 there have been a number of Government backed initiatives which impact on the operational environment and place specific restrictions and limitations on the covered institutions in relation to the payment of bonuses to their senior management and staff. I refer to the publication of the...

Written Answers — Bank Guarantee Scheme: Bank Guarantee Scheme (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would point out, to the Deputy that, contrary to public perception, a lot of changes at director level at the covered institutions have taken place. The Government has sought to bring certainty to the operation of the Irish financial system by making progressive changes at board level and implementing other measures such as changes in the manner that new director appointments are now made....

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Section 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides income tax relief in respect of the cost of tuition fees paid on behalf of a student who is undertaking 'an approved course' at 'an approved college'. A list of the approved courses and approved colleges can be found on the Revenue website at www.revenue.ie. The maximum limit on tuition fees for each course for the academic year 2010...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Dublin Savings Bank was merged into the Trustee Savings Bank in 1988 and now forms part of Permanent TSB. The merger preceded the Dormant Accounts legislation by more than a decade. The Dormant Accounts Act 2001 established the Dormant Accounts Fund. The Act provided for the first transfer of moneys to the Fund in respect of dormant accounts to be made not later than 30 April 2003....

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Information on the numbers employed in the Public service, on a functional classification basis at end 2008, end 2009 and Quarter 3 2010 is presented in the following table. Table 1* 2008 2009 2010 Qtr4 Qtr4 Qtr3 Civil Service 39,313 37,356 36,604 Defence Sector 11,265 10,736 10,397 Education Sector 94,663 92,984 93,253 Health Sector 111,025 109,753 108,801 Justice Sector 15,692...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In relation to the first part of the Deputy's question the reply is provided at Annex 1 and sets out the most recent information available as advised by the Revenue Commissioners. The second part of the question relating to tax expenditures that are to be withdrawn over the course of the National Recovery Plan are as set out in Annex 2. The National Recovery Plan provided for a series of...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Unfortunately, it was not possible to collate the information required for this answer in the time allowed. I will provide the Deputy with the answer in writing shortly.

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A full review of the Business Expansion Scheme (BES) was carried out in 2006. The report can be obtained from the Department of Finance website, at http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/publications/Reports/BES SCSReport.pdf. This review highlighted the lack of equity capital support for small firms in their start up and early development phases, how vital the scheme had been in the past for...

Written Answers — Bank Guarantee Scheme: Bank Guarantee Scheme (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that directors at the covered institutions, including public interest directors who are nominated by me, are appointed by the respective boards. Accordingly, disclosure of details of their remuneration is covered by various rules and procedures. The guidelines on fees payable to directors are as set out in the report of the Covered Institutions Remuneration...

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (16 Dec 2010)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is assumed that the Deputy is seeking information on the amount of interest on borrowings claimed as a deduction for corporation tax by companies in the property or construction sectors for year 2000 and onwards. As indicated in my reply of 8 December to parliamentary question number 46635/10 information in relation to interest claimed as a deduction is so far available only for the tax...